Leah's 1st Birthday Party

Leah came to visit us in New York after last seeing her during Christmas! It was a long 5 months to wait for her to come back but boy was she talkative and I sure did miss her. Her and I had long conversations and we got to spend a lot of time together in New York as my aunt and uncle both stayed with us at our new apartment. Leah celebrated her 1st birthday at her Uncle Tim and Aunt Eunice's lounge. The place was really nice, new and modern with an outside area to run around!

Here is Leah and my pretty Aunt. Doesn't she look great in her han bok?

My cousin Leah is such a ham and she was in such great spirits during her 1st birthday unlike me. Oh well! The Kwon family!

Grandma Kwon made me wear my hanbok again and pose with Leah but it was really hard since I wanted to walk and explore and Leah kept eating all the decorations. Don't think Leah was the only one eating -- I myself fell into her birthday cake, not once, but 3 times and had to eventually take off my button down preppy shirt. *sigh*

Here we are playing the traditional Korean game at 1st birthday parties to determine your destiny. Leah decided she was going to be a singing doctor .....

...who plays golf. Too bad we didn't have a small pair of ice skates as I'm sure she is going to be the next Olympic figure skater. I got to have another chance at choosing my destiny and of course I picked the book...again!? But after, I picked money and Grandma Kwon was so excited!!

Leah had a surprise guest at her party and although I don't like Elmo on tv, for some reason, we have a love relationship when it comes to meeting the big furry Elmo in person! Elmo, I love you...

Elmo you wanna see my dance I practiced for you? Elmo, don't leave!!!

The Kwon family with Elmo (aka Leah's uncle Sammy)

Haha, I almost ran away to get a balloon ... and I got one! Nani nani poo poo!

Leah had a really good time and so did I. The Kwon family is happily going to move back to NY -- finally -- so hopefully I'll get to spend more time with my aunt, uncle and most of all my cousin, Leah.

We are both so cute. I can't say enough ...

Stay tuned!

The Bronx Zoo!!!

On a Monday when Daddy took the day off, I was lucky enough to go to my first trip to the Bronx Zoo. I got to see all sorts of animals like giraffes, tigers, polar bears, peacocks, all kinds of reptiles and fish and more!! Mommy went to the Bronx Zoo a long long time ago when she was little and she said everything is pretty much the same -- at least the children's zoo. That's over 20 odd years ago!

Here I am enjoying the fish in the see thru glass! And then we went to a tiger feeding demostration and I was in awe.

Daddy and I took a stroll while walking over to the polar bear exhibit.

Daddy and I watching the giraffes! And then I took a break and when to the playground in the zoo. It was a big kids playground but I kept up!

Here I am in the children's zoo. This is supposed to be a bird's nest but I quickly decided that I was not a bird and needed to get out of the nest.

I loved the prairie dogs though! They were just about my height and so cute!!!

I said hello to them and got to experience what it feels like to peep out of a hole from the ground.

I also climbed a spider web with the help of mommy and read up on the mini kangaroo exhibit.

Next, I tried on a turtle house but decided that I need to grow a bit more for it to fit me.

The ears of some animal (mommy forgot) were quite interesting and a bit big, but boy could I hear a lot better. At the end of the children's zoo there was a petting/feeding area. I got to feed goats, sheep and pet pigs and other animals.

As a lot of you may know my favorite book is Llama Llama Red Pajama but this llama scared the bejeebers out of me. After that, I got scared of all the animals as the goat ate my finger while I tried to feed it. Boo hoo.

We did have a small incident as mommy swung me over and my shoe fell into the pond of an exhibit! Thankfully it was not a polar bear or seal exhibit and instead it was a duck pond in the children's zoo. Daddy came to the rescue and climbed over the exhibit and went in and got my shoe back! Thankfully mommy brought 2 pairs of shoes but unfortunately, mommy did not take pictures since she was cracking up so hard. Oh well. At least you guys all know.

Love,
Matthew

My 2nd Mother's Day

Last year on Mother's Day, I was just about 100 days old! This year, I was big enough to go on a hike with my parents, my grandparents and my grandaunt and granduncle. We went to Minnewasaka, which is in upstate NY. My dad and I of course had a small mommy's day celebration in the morning. We wrote a card together for mommy and we surprised mommy with some flat shoes so she would be comfortable yet fashionable during her commute to work back and forth.

If you can believe it, the hike lasted about 6 hours! That's right. We all hiked an arduous but scenic hike around the lake that provided scenic views way up high. It was very windy at some points and Grandpa Kwon lost his hat at one point!

Here we are the whole team minus mommy who took the picture. Daddy was my porter and carried me for 5 hours and 45 minutes out of the 6 hours.

The Kimbo family. We took a small break at a patch of green and daddy was telling me all about the health benefits of dandelions. Grandma Kim makes some yummy picked dandelions. Once I'm able to handle spicy foods, I'll definitely have to try some.

Grandpa Kwon enticing me to collect dandelions and run!

Proof that the hike was not a smooth one. It had inclines up and down! Grandpa Kwon helped carry me for about 15 minutes and then was about to faint so he had to hand me back over to my trusty porter, Daddy.

Daddy and I and Mommy and I.

The team picture and the Kim family. Yay! We survived.

We were all tired and hungry but we survived and got back to the city around 11PM. Good times were had by all as it'll probably be a while now until we can go on such a long hike since mommy is starting to lose her balance with her tummy growing.

Up next, my trip to the Bronx Zoo!

My Visit to Toronto

Recently I went up to Toronto for one of my dad's friends' wedding. It was only for a weekend but I got to spend some quality time with my grandparents and godmother. It was nice to have a big house and yard to run around in and explore. I even got to see Grandma barbeque and Grandpa clean out the pool. I had many days of delicious cooking from Grandma Kim and lots of love from both grandparents. I can't wait until I'm big enough to swim in the pool!

Here I am in front of my grandparents yard enjoying the nice weather and my new sun hat courtesy of my grandparents.

You see this leaf? I found it on the floor. This hat is bothering me though...I can't see in front of me.

That's better. These daily squats I do, keep me in my great shape. Here I am with my pretty godmother! :)

And of course who said the grandparents don't spoil me! I got a car and I'm not even 2 yet!! And my grandpa rode me around on a bicycle in this new tag along gadget. It's made for 2 kids so they strapped me in the middle but that didn't quite work so for now, I have to ride on one side until my brother or sister comes along.

Soon, I'll be singing Oh Canada......